The T-shaped site, nested among a dense neighborhood and a large water tank, forced us to find a creative way to insert the building and to find interesting vistas. The children are encouraged to learn about sustainability walking on the bridge over the water retention pond. The building dialogues with the neighboring houses thanks to its moderate scale, repetition of roof dormers and choice of cladding materials. The school becomes a part of the community to which it belongs. The Rocketship public school model, based on the rotation of four learning blocks every day, Humanities, STEM, Learning Lab and Enrichment is embedded in the project layout plan. The Rocketship mission, to allow all kids to unleash their potential, is exemplified in the dynamic and clean design intent.
The jury appreciated the clean lines of the project and dynamic interiors spaces. It is commendable to achieve a LEED platinum certification for this project type. The scale of the project blends well with the surrounding neighborhood. The designers picked moves carefully and executed them superbly. There is a clarity of intent that shines through on this project.
Rocketship Legacy Prep was conferred the 2019 Excellence in Design Honor Award in the Institutional Architecture category by the American Institute of Architects’ Potomac Valley Chapter. Click HERE to view our project and the list of winners.
Contractor: MCN Build
Landscape Architect: Wiles Mensch DC
Photographer: Alan Karchmer
